GUN MAKER TYRON COX WHO WORKED AT MONTEM PRIMARY SCHOOL

Published: 18 June 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

DETECTIVES failed to tell a primary school they were investigating a teaching assistant who was suspected of converting starter pistols into guns for at least two months – to avoid jeopardising their investigation.

Former Montem Primary School headteacher Sue Siefert was oblivious to the fact that Tyron Cox, who worked with children as young as three, was being watched by police.

And it has emerged that Mr Cox, who was jailed on Wednesday for 30 months, was ­given the job in 2005 despite a criminal record check revealing he had cautions for possession of an offensive weapon – a lock knife – and cannabis.

The revelations have thrown renewed attention on Islington Council’s recruitment procedures, which were overhauled last year after it was discovered that staff at Canonbury ­Primary School had been employed without the correct checks being followed.

At home time yesterday (Thursday) parents were asking why the police left Mr Cox to work with their children for two months without warning the school.

Father Nicky Bertram said: “It’s terrible. They shouldn’t have taken him on in the first place.” 

And one mother, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s a good school but this is outrageous. What’s the point of schools doing checks if they are still going to employ him?”

Many were in shock, insisting Mr Cox was a “lovely guy”, who helped their children with reading and writing.

Montem School headteacher Nick Tait said: “Montem has rigorous procedures in place to ensure the suitability of all staff employed by the school. These procedures have been inspected by Ofsted and were found to be robust.”

Police say Mr Cox, 26, who lived in Enfield, led a double life, presenting himself to the school as a “reformed character”. 

At Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday, he admitted buying starter pistols and converting them into working guns in a shed belonging to the mother of accomplice Lewis Monk, who was jailed for 25 months.

After he was taken on at the school, police say, Mr Cox was arrested for possession of cannabis but allowed to keep his job.

Police became suspicious of Mr Cox last September. 

Acting Detective Sergeant Luke Da’ Belle, of the Serious Crime Directorate, said: “We couldn’t go to them (the school) with our intelligence because it was sensitive. We’d have blown it and not been able to arrest Mr Cox. We had to be sure. We balanced the operation on the risk he posed to the children. We made sure that it was a fast-time operation. We’re dealing with converters of lethal weapons which could be supplied to potential killers.

“When he was arrested for possession of cannabis [officers] spoke to the school straight away because they were concerned and the school said they were aware.”

Mr Cox was suspended and dismissed from the school after his arrest on December 23.

Two days earlier police watched as Monk and Cox bought four Olympic 0.38s and 50 rounds of blank-firing ammunition from an Enfield sports shop and took them back to the shed.

Officers later raided the shed, which had been converted into a “crude firearms workshop”. 

On May 7, Cox and Monk pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to possession and distribution of firearms and ammunition, and conspiracy to convert firearms and ammunition.

An Islington Council spokeswoman said: “The relevant checks – including a CRB – were carried out. All the information disclosed will have been considered by the headteacher. The school wrote to parents in January advising them that Mr Cox had been charged with a serious matter but not one that was linked to the safeguarding of children.

“Montem was audited as part of the Safer Recruitment Action Plan on March 26. It passed the audit and has in place rigorous procedures to ensure the suitability of all staff employed by the school.”

The council declined to comment on police procedures.

• Additional reporting by Shaima Al-Obaidi